XimenoideX

Chapter 239 — The Choices are Made.

Chapter 239: Chapter 239 — The Choices are Made.


It was a usual skill used in invasive tactics. Brief to make the ones involved invisible to others’ eyes with the sly play of a hypnotizing partition.


Zeleskiaz was too heightened in skill not to fall in its lure, which made the method a wonderful help to conduct the Lady out of the Ball Room... Once more.


With creaking steps, stiff like never before, he managed to take the frozen Lady out of the packed Hall. Taking the woman’s figure in his arms only once it was sure nobody was to witness such action.


"... Pardon me." — He told the unresponsive Marianne.


"..."


’..... D*mn the heavens.’ — Zeleskiaz cussed, hurt by the sight and arid quiet.


Hurried to get her to the chambers she owned, he evaded any soul that could disturb his track. Grasping with each step the frail body in his hands, desperately, as it seemed to lose more and more of its delightful softness and warmth with each passing second.


"...kh...!"


Anguish appeared merciful at the griefing ache the beloved’s state incited. Hence, the devoted man sped up. More. Solely to reach the chambers where Fenrir... The sole culprit in his eyes... Resided.


’It’s f*cked spirit is there...’


"What it has done... It ought to undo."


Great fury and thirst for violence against our close one were the only sentiments prospering in the Crown Prince’s revengeful soul.


And eventually, the sight of two relaxed guards leaning on her doors made him stop in his path... Only for a moment.


’Cursed inept!’


The limit of his wild rage reached its peak. His aura... Shook the Main Palace in a gruesome quake that turned men blue in fright.


"... Leave."


"!? Yes!!"


His growl sent the men away instantly. With the bloodthirsty eyes only the nurtured beast inside him could summon, as a walking menace towards them.


Crash...!


Walking inside, through the hard gates that resisted his unrestrained kick, Zeleskiaz paced glaring at every obscure nook before preciously seating the doll of a woman in her mattress.


"..... What is it that caused this....."


Lowering his height, watching from below, he demanded. Disheartened at her unmoving lids, a pained expression commenced invading Zeleskiaz. Because even after minutes of keeping an eye on any sign of slight flutter... They kept shut. Frozen. Making the woman seem far... Far from his mortal reach.


"Fenrir... Crawl here and speak."


Zeleskiaz’s voice distorted in his growling ultimatum. Although his indignation screamed his lungs apart for now tears traced her pale skin.


"Lady."


"..."


"Lady."


"..."


"..... Are you... Still there?"


The question was asked with tranquil fear.


Yet the enamoured man’s hues could not continue to watch the woman he loved blend with the shades of her chamber.


As if she was being taken in by the empty furniture, the woman seemed to pertain to the room like a fragile adornment. One that if touched, would crack and mesh its essence hopelessly with the others inhabiting those walls.


"..."


Hearing her silence, a hard fall of his heart was felt within his anxious soul. For this time, the silence she emitted was one where her existence felt amiss for the first time.


"... You... My Lady... It cannot be that you are not there."


His eyes were looking downwards.


Catching sight of those hands of hers that were joined in her lap, it was to them that he now talked to. Ignoring the sounds of steps from a known physician making his way to the beloved’s chambers in a deserved rush.


"... I have your stack." — Zeleskiaz then continued, listening to the vexing quiet she held.


"..."


"... So you will join me."


"..."


"Now. Before tonight ends, My Lady."


The knot on his throat, let him say as he looked up. Adoring the white of the woman against the light nature granted from the balcony he had tapped on to see her every night.


Stomp.. stomp stomp.. !


The steps commenced to get closer yet at this time... Statues of a man and a woman decorated the room.


Zeleskiaz remained in his place intently observant. Waiting. Sure and hopeful that soon her motion would come back.


"... Her personal maid... their way..."


The sound of people could now be recognised.


But they would not enter the chambers.


—... No claw..... will... —


— Indeed... If the child awakes... Only him you protect can stay, wandering Fenrir... Our friend... You are now to stay. —


—... Odour..... Their smell has reached... Cannot wander... —


— That it is. They have arrived. —


—... Arrived... Yes... So I take their blood... For Calla..... For Jørgen.... For Oregor... —


—..... Yes... This time. We are to help a child. —


*******


"Duke Sylfinnier! How rare for you to–"


"I need to speak with you."


"... What’s wrong?" — Francois blinked baffled at his friend’s serious demeanour that forfeited any facade he usually portrayed when speaking with him in public.


Making his eyes stroll through the Hall where he hosted the Royal Ball, Francois then added.


"Where is the child?"


The frown in Orland’s expression deepened. — "... Discreetly, send Talmhach to her chambers... I need to speak with you before I go there."


"Go, husband." — The proper Empress intersected, aware that surprise was affecting her partner.


"... Ah..."


Standing from his throne, Francois was dubious at the darkened spirit of his friend and followed to private lounges giving immediate orders to his direct servant as he went away.


"Quickly send Talmhach to the Ninth’s chambers. Immediately... And make it so no one notice. Understood?"


"Yes, your Excellency."


"... Let’s go."


Gesturing to his friend, Francois led the way to speak in privacy. Unsettled by the never seen ominosity Orland carried.


"What’s going on? Is the child alright?"


"... She should be... I hope she is..."


"... Why are you still here if you don’t know?!"


Speechless at what Orland was saying, Francois reproached the unusual attitude towards the child.


"... I need to ask a favour from you first."


"... Wh–"


"I am willing to Head the front lines if you help me out."


"..... What in the world are you saying?!"


Devoid of waver, the Duke’s eyes turned the Emperor pale the more he heard.


Francois was too conscious of the Empire’s current political issues just as much as Orland was.


Nonetheless... Offering himself to lead the Front... Was clear to Francois that his friend was risking his life... Sentencing it to not seeing his children again with such an offer.


"Tell me what’s happening... Don’t offer your head like that. You know I won’t accept that from you, Orland."


"... It is just that big a favour, Francois."


"... Are you... hurting?"


"I am."


The direct concession to his words sent a pang to Francois’s chest.


Giving a step forward, instinctively, the Emperor placed his hand on his conflicted friend’s shoulder wishing to give the support he never gave in the past.


"Tell me what I can do. I won’t ask for restitution from you... My friend."


"... D*mn it... Don’t get all clingy. I will be fine..."


Tight-lipped expression. Moved by the sincerity of his old friend, Orland assured him with a harsh yet weak sound to quickly dismiss it and engage in the main matter he needed to asses.


"Nevermind that. We will talk about how to repay you as we go... Francois."


"..."


"I will need to take a pair from the Quadrigis to help at my manor."


"You won’t say why you need them?"


"I need to make sure first."


"... Does this has to do with the cute child?"


"Unfortunately... Or fortunately... It depends, truthfully."


"What else?"


"..."


"... You have full power over the Umbras. You didn’t need my help for that."


"Invite Marianne to stay in the Palace indefinitely."


"... What...? But–"


"I know. Just... Just temporarily..... Please..."


"It’s not that I can’t! But, Orland! You are asking me to take your child away from you with this!!"


Aghast by his friend’s petition, Francois could not help to yell at his friend with exasperation. For his decisions seemed extreme when, knowing the kind of man Orland was... he would never intentionally separate from the child if it was in his power... If it was not urgently necessary.


Hence, the response he then obtained shut Francois’s mind blank. For it was unexpected how the motive was conveyed with enormous hurt in his friend’s tone.


"It is not from me... I need... I need to take her away from that place..."


"..... I don’t understand..."


"I fear that... I’ve been too blind, Francois."


Sadness inundated the controlled Duke’s eyes.


As if he was witnessing a new version of the Lucid warrior in front of him, Francois stared in silence at the hardened man that restrained the pain from surfacing any further in his demeanour.


"..."


The quiet felt heavy and desolate for the men keeping it.


Francois could not take his eyes off of the struggling man. Appearing as though he was carrying guilt and despair on his shoulders.


’... To become like this for your family... My friend... You are too gentle of a man...’


Aware that Orland would come to blame himself for whatever drove him to this, Francois finally decided, giving a long sigh to show consideration to the man who should not be there at the moment.


"Haaa..... I can’t understand if you are this much of a mess..."


"..."


"... Go fix your annoying face and go see your child... Take care of her first, make sure she’s alright and come back... We will talk more about this when you do... Only know that I won’t take away my help from you. This is not as an Emperor that I am saying it, Orland."


Staring directly into his eyes, the royal friend reassured the troubled.


"... I know..." — Scoffing to the obvious, Orland said. — "Although... It’s still wrong that you do so. It’s not ethical... Worthless Maurice. Useless Emperor."


"... D*mn f*ck. So you’re good enough to preach!? Get the bloody hell out!... Making people worried to then stab them!!"


Pushing him aside, Francois fumed at the call of the name he disliked.


Nonetheless, Orland smiled as he was driven away. Thankful to receive the support he most needed.